"Building one’s life on Christ; loving God’s word and the Church; becoming familiar with the Bible by rediscovering the lectio divina" these are the exhortations contained in Benedict XVI’s message for the World Youth Day which this year will be celebrated in the local churches on April 9th, Palm Sunday, about "Lamp for my steps is your word, light on my way". In the text, released today, the Pope sets out a plan for the youth of the third millennium: "Building one’s life on Christ by welcoming His word and putting His lessons into practice. It’s urgent to bring into life a new generation of apostles deeply rooted in Christ’s word, able to respond to the challenges of our time and ready to spread the Gospel. And, if Jesus calls you, don’t be afraid to answer Him generously, especially when He asks you to follow Him in consecrated or priestly life. Don’t be afraid; trust Him and you won’t be disappointed". "Love and follow the Church continues the Pope whose mission is to show men the road to true happiness. It’s not easy to recognise true happiness in the world we live in, where man is often hostage to currents of thought, which, while he thinks he is "Free", lead him to get lost in mistake or in the delusions of aberrant ideologies. It’s urgent to “free freedom”, to shed light onto the darkness in which man is groping. The Word incarnate makes us free and directs our freedom to goodness". (to be continued)
